Aster looked at his master in disbelief.
"What happened?"
"Alaris is dead," Valorant replied in a cold, grief-stricken voice.
Anna was sitting at the same table, directly across from them. The moment she heard those words, the color drained from her face. It was obvious—she refused to believe what she had just heard.
She stood up abruptly and ran out of the room.
"No… that can't be true!" she cried to herself, tears streaming down her face.
Anna rushed up to the second floor and sprinted along the corridor until she reached her grandfather's room. The door was open. She hurried to the doorway and looked inside without stepping in.
The room was dark, lit only by the light spilling in from the hall. Everything inside looked exactly the same—except for one thing.
A doctor in a white coat stood beside the bed.
The doctor slowly drew the sheet up and gently covered the face of the person lying there.
Sensing someone blocking the light from the doorway, the doctor turned and saw Anna standing there, tears filling her eyes.
The man in white quietly gathered his belongings, approached her, and said in a subdued voice,
"My deepest condolences."
For a single second, Anna's tears stopped.
For everyone else, it was just a moment.
For Anna, it was the instant she lost everything.
As the doctor left the room, Suna and Aster arrived. Anna was sitting on the floor. The maid rushed to her side and held her tightly, trying to comfort her.
Suna didn't make a sound—but the tears flowing from her eyes said everything.
Watching from the side, Aster remembered the words his master had spoken before they came here.
"Aster, hurry. Pack your things as quickly as possible. Help them too."
He stopped and turned to Valorant.
"Why?"
"The faster we leave this place, the better. The next part begins now. After Alaris's death, we must take Anna from here and bring her to the Elven Forest. Be ready in ten minutes," Valorant said, turning to leave.
Suddenly, Aster grabbed his master's hand.
"Alright, Master! But you'll explain everything later," he said seriously—then turned and ran after Suna.
Aster didn't know how to tell the two girls—girls who had just lost the person closest to them—what his master had said.
In his mind, there were no words he could offer but condolences.
Aster approached them and opened his mouth to speak—but it felt as though something was lodged in his throat, stopping the words from coming out. He swallowed once and extended his hand toward them.
In that moment, a familiar sensation returned—the same feeling he had experienced half a year ago by the river, when he lost his mother. It was as if he were standing there again.
'What can I even say to them? I can see how much they're hurting. But Master said we have to leave. He never says things without reason.'
Placing a hand on Suna's shoulder, Aster spoke in a low voice.
"Suna… Anna… I know this sounds wrong, but we have to leave."
Suna's anger flared instantly.
"What are you saying?!"
Her reaction was understandable.
"That's what Master said," Aster replied, lowering his head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know why we have to do this."
Suna's brows knitted together.
"How can you say that?! Are you even thinking?"
"Trust Master Valorant," Aster said, lifting his head.
Suna stared at him for a long moment. Trust and doubt mixed in her eyes. Even she understood—one of the Seven Sages wouldn't say something like this without a reason.
After a brief silence, Suna spoke.
"I don't know what's going on… but fine. I'll do as you say," she said, wiping away her tears.
Aster nodded.
"Hurry," he said, then ran out of the room.
Suna held Anna tightly as she cried, but remembering what had just been said, she forced herself to regain control. Wiping her eyes once more, she steadied her breathing.
"Anna… forgive me. I know this is unbearably hard right now, but… we have to go."
Anna's voice trembled as she spoke through tears.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Suna drew in a sharp breath.
"I understand…"
She tried to continue, but Anna cut her off.
"I don't care!"
Suna desperately wondered how she could possibly take Anna away from this place.
Then, suddenly, a memory surfaced—the last time she had seen the duke.
***
Alaris lay in his bed, his condition grave. Dark circles had formed beneath his eyes, and his lips were dry and cracked. Anna sat on a chair beside him, holding his hand. Suna stood quietly by the door, watching their conversation.
"Anna…" Alaris reached out to her.
"Yes, Grandpa. I'm here," Anna replied, gripping his hand.
"You already know that I'll be leaving you soon."
Anna shook her head.
"Please don't say that. I'll find a way to cure you. You told me yourself that there's a way in the books in the library. I've almost read every book there. Just a little more time—and I'll find the magic, the medicinal herb that can help you."
"I believe in you. You'll find the medicine that can heal me," Alaris said softly.
"But what matters most is that you never stop. Whether it's for my sake—or to achieve what you want in your own life—never stop. Keep moving. Keep striving. Keep searching, reading, and learning. Only then will you reach your goal."
Anna tightened her grip on his hand.
"There's one more thing I must tell you," Alaris continued.
"This world may not be as beautiful as you imagine. Things may not go the way you want them to. But never forget this—no matter what happens, don't look back. Always move forward. Don't cling to the past. Reach toward the future—"
A violent coughing fit seized him.
Anna quickly helped him drink the liquid from a vial on the small cabinet beside the bed.
"Drink this!"
After swallowing it, Alaris breathed more easily and continued.
"My final advice to you… trust Valorant as much as you trust me. Follow his words just as you followed mine. He will never hurt you—and he will never let others hurt you. Don't forget that."
He gently stroked Anna's head.
Those words echoed in Suna's mind.
She tightened her hold on Anna.
"Anna," she said softly, "please… trust your grandfather's words."